TP-Link Archer C3200 5 GHz router review, is it worth it?

The TP-Link Archer C3200 (C3200) router released in 2015. It is powered by Broadcom BCM4709A0 @ 1 GHz chipset, 256 MB of RAM and 128 MB of flash. The AC3200 router is compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards, and the maximum speed that you can get with Archer C3200 is 600 + 1300 + 1300 Mbps. The router has 1 x 10/100/1000 Mbps WAN and 4 x 10/100/1000 Mbps LAN ports.

The Archer C3200 is a good choice for users seeking a reliable and feature-rich router that supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology. You can connect supported USB devices to the Archer C3200 router. The external storage devices such as USB flash drives or external hard drives add file-server functionality to this router. TP-Link incorporates energy-efficient features in their products, promoting sustainability and reducing power consumption.

Table of contents:

• TP-Link Archer C3200 specifications
• TP-Link Archer C3200 pictures

TP-Link Archer C3200 (C3200) specifications

Body

The dimensions and design of a router can impact its cooling capabilities. Routers with larger dimensions may have more space for internal cooling mechanisms, such as larger fans or heat sinks, which can help dissipate heat more effectively.

System

The TP-Link Archer C3200 router is equipped with Broadcom BCM4709A0 @ 1 GHz processor. The 256 MB of RAM enables the router to handle multiple tasks and processes concurrently. It allows for the efficient switching and allocation of resources among different processes running on the router, facilitating multitasking and ensuring smooth operation. The flash memory in a TP-Link router is different from the volatile memory (RAM) that is used for temporary storage of data while the router is powered on. Flash memory of the Archer C3200 retains its data even when the router is powered off, allowing the router to maintain its firmware and configuration settings across reboots.

To upgrade the firmware of the Archer C3200 router, you typically need to visit the manufacturer's website, locate the specific model of your router, and download the latest firmware version provided. The firmware upgrade process may vary depending on the router model, but it often involves accessing the router's web-based administration interface and uploading the downloaded firmware file. The TP-Link Archer C3200 router comes with 12 V / 5 A PSU. This unit is responsible for providing electrical power to the router, and if it becomes faulty, it can be replaced with a new, compatible one.

Network

Like many modern routers, the TP-Link Archer C3200 supports a variety of features and technologies to enhance your network connectivity and security. The IPv4 is the fourth iteration of the Internet Protocol (IP) and is the most widely used version of IP on the internet today. The latest firmware supports IPv6 protocol that provides an identification and location system for computers on networks and routes traffic across the Internet.

The TP-Link Archer C3200 has 4 x 10/100/1000 Mbps LAN and 1 x 10/100/1000 Mbps WAN ports. LAN or Ethernet ports (RJ-45) are used to connect devices to the local area network (LAN). Gigabit Ethernet ports support data transfer rates of up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps), which is significantly faster than the maximum speed of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) supported by standard Ethernet ports. WAN ports are used to connect the router to your internet service provider (ISP). They typically use Ethernet cables or fiber optic connections to establish a high-speed link between your local network and the wider internet.

The Archer C3200 router supports Gigabit WAN. Having a Gigabit WAN port is beneficial when your internet service plan supports high-speed connectivity, as it ensures that your router's WAN connection can handle the maximum speed provided by your ISP. The Archer C3200 comes with built-in OpenVPN client. OpenVPN is available for various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It can be deployed on a wide range of devices, making it accessible and compatible with different platforms. PPTP creates a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel between two endpoints, allowing secure communication over an insecure network such as the internet. It encapsulates the data packets within PPTP packets for transmission.

Wireless

This router has 8 x external antennas. Antennas play a significant role in Wi-Fi performance and coverage. They are essential components of wireless routers that transmit and receive radio signals to establish wireless connections with devices. This router is 2.4 GHz capable. The 2.4GHz band refers to the portion of the radio spectrum between 2.400 and 2.4835 gigahertz. This frequency range is unlicensed and globally available for various wireless applications, including Wi-Fi.

The 2.4 GHz band is heavily utilized by various devices like cordless phones, Bluetooth devices, and microwaves, leading to higher interference levels. The 5 GHz band is less congested, resulting in reduced interference and a clearer wireless signal. The Archer C3200 router is 5 GHz capable. The Archer C3200 Wi-Fi router offers fast data transfer speeds, suitable for demanding applications like streaming HD or 4K video, online gaming, and large file transfers.

The AC3200 is a performance indicator that represents the router's theoretical maximum speed. The theoretical maximum speed (600 + 1300 + 1300 Mbps) represents the highest data transfer rate that the router is capable of achieving under ideal conditions. The TX power (30 dBm) of a router refers to the transmission power or signal strength at which the router broadcasts its Wi-Fi signal. It determines the range and coverage area of the wireless network.

The Archer C3200 router offers several security protocols: WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPS. The WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) was the first security protocol for Wi-Fi networks but is now considered weak and easily compromised. It uses a static encryption key and has known vulnerabilities, so it is no longer recommended for securing Wi-Fi networks. The WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) was introduced as an improvement over WEP and provides stronger security. If WPA3 is not available, WPA2-Personal with AES encryption is still considered secure.

The Archer C3200 router offers WPS. The WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) provides a simplified and convenient method for connecting devices to a Wi-Fi network. Instead of manually entering the Wi-Fi network name (SSID) and password, users can use the WPS feature to establish a connection with the push of a button or by entering a PIN. A guest network on the Archer C3200 router is a separate network that provides internet access to guests or visitors without giving them access to your main or primary network. It allows you to create a dedicated network segment for guests, keeping their devices isolated from your private network, thereby enhancing security and privacy.

Connectivity

USB ports can offer additional functionality depending on the router's capabilities. The USB 2 port has a maximum theoretical data transfer rate of 480 megabits per second (Mbps), which is equivalent to 60 megabytes per second (MB/s). The USB 3 ports provide a fast interface for external storage with data transfer rates of up to 4.8 Gbps. You can attach a compatible USB printer to the TP-Link Archer C3200 device. USB print servers allow you to connect a USB printer to your network, making it accessible to multiple devices. This eliminates the need for each device to have a direct USB connection to the printer. It has built-in NAS functionality. You can connect external storage devices such as USB flash drives or USB hard drives to your router. This allows you to share files, documents, photos, and media across devices on your network. It can be convenient for accessing and sharing files without the need for separate file servers or cloud storage.

Administration

The default IP addresses of the TP-Link Archer C3200 device is 192.168.0.1. These address allows you to access the router's console login page. Regularly changing the password is a good security practice to protect your network and devices from unauthorized access. It is also recommended to use strong, unique passwords for other devices and online accounts connected to your network for enhanced security. By changing the default password, you improve the security of your router and reduce the risk of unauthorized individuals gaining control over your network. It helps prevent unauthorized access to your router's settings, network configurations, and sensitive information.

The specifications above are based on the official data published by the manufacturer, but we also take user reviews into consideration. If you found an error or something lacking in the specifications above for the TP-Link Archer C3200, then don’t hesite and signal the problem to us.

TP-Link Archer C3200 (C3200) pictures

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